Newhart ending vs St. Elsewhere ending

Cafe Society
21

Newhart is one of my favorite shows. I know I’m in the minority, but I hate the way it ended. I feel like it undermined the entire series.

22

I agree, though I prefer his previous series.

23

And I can rarely ignore an opportunity to declare my eternal love for Suzanne Plechette.

24

I’d just like to add that because of this thread, I got the urge to look up the Newhart finale on youtube, the first time I watched it (I think) since it first aired. A few things struck me about the penultimate scene (the scene just BEFORE Dick/Bob wakes up in bed with Pleshette):

  1. Mary Frann wears a geisha wig and every one comments to Dick about his ‘new wife.’ Dick repeatedly mentions that this is his ‘old wife.’ Everyone comments on her dark hair and says “It seemed so real.” I just realized that this is foreshadowing the surprise ending: “This is my old wife with dark hair.” “Gee, it seemed so real!” (I was tempted to add a post to the ‘Things I noticed about a creative work after seeing it a zillion times’, but it I think that thread ought to die already.)

  2. Boom mike sighting! At about 2:52 into the linked clip.

  3. One of the Long Island wives that Larry, Darryl & Darryl marry is played by none other than LISA KUDROW! (She’s Rhonda’s sister Saida.)